New developments in robotics are making the technology both more affordable and applicable to warehouse operations of many types and sizes, says Jim Liefer, chief executive officer of Kindred.

SCB: What do you see as the key robotics trends in the supply-chain industry this year?

Liefer: The trend is definitely moving to direct manipulation of physical product. By that I mean robots that understand unstructured themes, where to pick something up, how to identify it, and how to place it. That, I believe, is where everything's going.

SCB: What’s a situation that a robot can address now that it couldn't previously?

Liefer: A.I. is the key. It has enabled robots to work in a world full of exceptions — an environment that’s unpredictable.